Thanksgiving, get back to the basics!

Thanksgiving is an amazing holiday, few people really realize what it’s all about, even less actually take the time to think about all the good they have in their lives and why they should be thankful.

I encourage you to read this post in it’s entirety at the end I have a challenge for you.

Thanksgiving was actually created for one reason and further promoted for another reason.

The creation was to show appreciation, the initial Thanksgiving feast was celebrated in 1621. The Pilgrims shared it with the Native Americans because they had taught them how plant crops and hunt for wild game. This feast was how the Pilgrims showed their gratitude to the Native Americans for all of their help. Without the Native Americans the Pilgrims may not have survived the harsh winter.

The promotion of Thanksgiving is not as well know. Thanksgiving was officially declared a holiday by George Washington in 1789. By the mid 1800′s many states observed the holiday but not all on the same day. It wasn’t until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln, who was looking for ways to unite the country during the Civil War, gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation, declaring the last Thursday in November a day of Thanksgiving. President Lincoln knew that by doing this he could more easily unite the country. So the actual promotion of Thanksgiving was in fact to bring people closer together.

In the 1800′s this had great meaning and an actual purpose. In 2010 most holiday’s have become so commercialized we as a society have lost the true meaning behind them.

When was the last time on Thanksgiving you actually sat down and thought about all of the things you are thankful for.

Some will say last year other will answer never.

I have so many things to be thankful for in my life I could not possibly write about all of them with out boring you. I do want to share with you and give thanks for some of the most important things in my life.

1. My loving wife and family: They mean everything to me and bring so much joy and happiness to me. I could not imagine my life without them.
2. My Mother: Mom deserves a special shout out, she is always there for me, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is or what I need all I have to do is ask and it is done.
3. Health: Not just my own personal health but family wide we are blessed. even though there are small health issues we are all living and breathing and enjoying life.
4. Food and Shelter: So many people in the world lack these two simple necessities we as a society sometimes do not appreciate the simple things.
5. Network Marketing: This one has changed me the most. Being in Network Marketing has really opened my eyes to new way of life. A way of life where people encourage greatness. Not only are they willing to teach and share every bit of knowledge they have but they actually care about you and want you to succeed. This kind of relationship does not exist in corporate business. Corporate business is cut throat teach them as little as they need to know so they don’t pass you up.
6. Friends: Good friends are hard to come by, I am blessed to have 100′s business partners, who are my best friends and will continue to be for years to come. Good friends encourage you to be great they don’t bring you down or hold you back.

I’m going to cut it off right there but as mentioned I could go on and on and on.

Personally recognizing people and being thankful for them is only one part of the equation. Letting them know how you feel is most important.

Take some time and write down everything and everyone you are thankful for. Then go one step further and let them know.

I know this is going to sounds stupid, some of you will likely think I am insane and some of the younger readers won’t even know what I’m talking about.

Here is the challenge, take out a pen and a piece of paper and actually write them a letter. (If you are one of the younger readers who don’t know what a pen is paper is you can read about them at dictionary.com.) Now ever crazier yet I challenge you to send this letter through the actually mail. (again if you don’t know what this is check out dictionary.com)

Can you imagine how good that person will actually feel?
How would you feel if you received a letter of thanks in the actual mail.

We live in a fast passed society, with social media, email, cell phones, video phones, etc it is so simple to wish everyone a happy holiday in bulk and personal thought is tossed out the window. All sincerity is lost.

As if it wasn’t easy enough to text, email, tweet a Thank You, now we have even shorted Thank You! to Thanks, TKS, even TY. How impersonal are we going to get in the future?

Maybe they will just be a letter “t” or a head nod to relay a Thank You!

So do it, take some time this Thanksgiving and get back to basics, prove to people they really make a difference in your life.

If you enjoyed this post please share it, so others can embrace the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It only takes a second to retweet, status update, bookmark. Heck print it out and toss a copy in the letter you write…

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and remember if you are reading this you have it 100 times better than millions of people in the world.